Parents Anonymous

Madelyn "Maddie" Zimmerman of AnnapolisVolunteer work: Across the county and across the state, weekly meetings of Parents Anonymous (PA) take place in an effort to break what Maddie Zimmerman calls "the cycle of abuse."Ms. Zimmerman, a Parents Anonymous volunteer for the past five years, heads a PA group in Glen Burnie that works on techniques to deal with life's stresses and with ways to redirect parents' anger from their children.Ms. Zimmerman says it is often a parent who was abused as a child who turns into an abuser.

The boy was being suspended from school for something he said he hadn't done. He was mad. He was frustrated. He was ready to punch somebody.Instead, he talked about the situation and his anger. He talked with other kids in his A.C.T. group -- that is Adolescents Coping Together -- and the adult moderator.The moderator listened, and he went to bat for the boy. But not a punch was thrown."It turned out the child was right, and he never was suspended and he's still in school," says Elaine Fisher, executive director of Parents Anonymous of Maryland, which has put A.C.T.

Twenty years ago, Lee Johnson rededicated her life to the elimination of child abuse by founding Parents Anonymous of Maryland Inc. Wednesday night, guests attending the 20th Anniversary Gala for Parents Anonymous of Maryland will pay tribute to her efforts.Mrs. Johnson, 47, who lives with her husband John in the Hunt Valley area of Baltimore County, started the Maryland chapter of the national organization -- and she also has graduated from its self-help program.In 1974, Mrs. Johnson (then Mrs. Lapicki)

Two respected nonprofit groups that try to prevent child abuse are targeting the problem with new programs and a new name.The two agencies -- Parents Anonymous and the Child Abuse Prevention Center -- joined forces in July. They created the Family Tree, a name that is kinder and simpler to better describe the protective nature of their mission.The goal is to more aggressively serve the 15,000 parents calling each year in need of free child-rearing help.The service focuses on preventing a problem considered acute.

Taking the punch out of tough kidsOrlando Yarborough knows what to do with a tough kid -- invite him to hit you.Three years ago, Mr. Yarborough, recruited by Parents Anonymous as a volunteer, walked into a middle school to confront a group of boys who had been identified as hostile and violent. The students -- members of rival gangs -- began fighting, indifferent to Mr. Yarborough's polite protests.So he yelled -- "YAH!" -- a yell he uses in his martial arts classes, and the boys quieted down.

CEOs, teachers, parents, and even a governor showed up at Martin's West Wednesday night to salute Nancy Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools and the Governor's Special Secretary for Children. More than 800 people attended the successful ($50,000) fund-raiser for Parents Anonymous, an agency dedicated to eliminating child abuse and neglect and strengthening families.When I arrived, the honoree's proud husband, Lou, was table hopping. I sat with an old friend, Bill Stair, and his grandson, Bradley Minetree, the newest vice president in Stair's business, Up-To-Date-Laundry.

CURRENT volunteers' news and needs:Golden Rule Awards, sponsored by J.C. Penney to honor volunteers in Central Maryland who best exemplify the spirit of volunteerism, have a March 16 deadline for nominations. Forms are available at J.C. Penney catalog desks or by calling (301) 298-8100. Awards will be presented April 16 at Martin's West.Chimes Inc. has initiated an official volunteer program for assisting instructors, friendly visiting, help with leisure activities, entertaining, clerical assistance and computer data entry.

SANTA CLAUS Anonymous marks its 58th campaign with this year's goal of raising $600,000 to bring Christmas to 60,000 children in Baltimore and surrounding counties. Address a donation to Santa Claus Anonymous, Carrollton Bank, 2 Charles Plaza, Baltimore 21201. For more information, call 685-4830.Institute of Notre Dame wants volunteers for its Computer Resource Center, 901 Aisquith St., to keep the center open between 8 a.m and 4 p.m. on school days. Computer literacy is not required. For more information call Sally Price Rupert at 522-7800.

MADELINE ''Maddie'' Zimmerman says her interest and motivation in life is in making families healthier.She volunteers to Parents Anonymous of Maryland as a group facilitator in a self-help support group at Harundale Presbyterian Church each week.PA is a non-profit agency dedicated to strengthening families and treating child abuse and neglect. Free and volunteer-based, the service is offered statewide.''Cherishing children,'' Zimmerman says, ''is the mark of a civilized society, and it must begin in the home.

The 13-year-old boy would punch out windows, tear down doors and kick holes in the walls of his parents' home. His father, Donald, couldn't handle the destructive behavior.Even though the teen's actions were the result of Tourette's syndrome -- a rare disease that causes involuntary actions and speech -- the father said he feared he might hurt his child."I never abused my kids, but I felt like I could go that way real easy," he said.So three years ago, Donald turned to Parents Anonymous, a help organization for parents and their children.